John Ziegler won the Budweiser Spring Classic at Wisconsin International
Raceway. Joining Ziegler in victory lane are Debbie Ashauer and Busch Beer
representative Roger Brink. – Al Graf Photo
By Gary Vercauteren
Kaukauna, Wis. (May 18, 1986) – John Ziegler avoided a wild wreck on the25th circuit and went on to win the Budweiser Spring Classic 50-lap late model feature Sunday afternoon at Wisconsin International Raceway before a crowd of 4,614.
Ironically, Ziegler wasn’t scheduled to compete in Kaukauna.
“We were thinking about going to the ASA show in Kalamazoo (Mich.) but with all of the rain they were getting, we decided to come here instead,” he said.
It was the first win for Ziegler at WIR since 1981 Thursday night checkered flag and his first special event victory since 1975 when he won the overall title in the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series.
Ziegler started off the afternoon by leading the 48-car field with a 20.134-second clocking in time trials.
Doug Herbst came off the front row to lead the opening round in the main event. Steve Arndt took over on the second lap and led until Tom Reffner pulled up on Arndt’s bumper and then wedged inside for the lead on lap 16. Bob Iverson shot past Arndt on lap 23 to take second.
The caution flew on lap 25 when Scott Hansen and Ziegler bumped while dicing for fifth position. Hansen’s car got sideways, and Terry Baldry went flying over the top of Hansen’s mount in the fourth turn. Baldry’s car turned on its side in mid-air and nearly flipped over.
Reffner’s seven-car-length lead was erased by the restart, and Iverson used the outer groove to take the lead from Reffner on lap 27.
Meanwhile, Ziegler continued his drive to the front. He went around Arndt for fourth position on lap 26 and passed Jim Weber for third on the 28th round. He motored past Reffner on lap 29 to move up to the runner-up spot.
Ziegler quickly closed up on Iverson and grabbed the lead on lap 32 along the front stretch. The veteran Madison driver opened up an eight-car-length margin over the final 18 circuits.
“You can never get too far ahead,” Ziegler commented. “I wasn’t really pushing hard.”
Iverson settled for second followed by Reffner, Jim Back, and Dave Watson.
Results –
1. John Ziegler, Madison
2. Bob Iverson, Escanaba, Mich.
3. Tom Reffner, Rudolph
4. Jim Back, Vesper
5. Dave Watson, Milton
6. Terry Baldry, Omro
7. Steve Arndt, Edgerton
8. Bill Oas, St. Paul, Minn.
9. Tom Musgrave, Half Day, Ill.
10.Perry Redeker, Wausau
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